Only One Night: A Fusion Universe Novel

by Dani Rene

  “Rome,” she says my name on a pleaded whisper. “If this were true, I would never have agreed to us. Yes, I was fearful at first, but I told you everything about me. I’m not a liar or a cheater.” Her eyes gloss over with emotion. I notice how she shakes, her body trembling from whatever she’s feeling. Is it fear? I don’t know, but I push to my feet and round my desk.

  “Stand.” My order is met with those wide, sparkling eyes, but she obeys. “I needed to see it for myself.”

  “See what?” she asks, her lower lip trembling, and I lean in to pull it into my mouth, biting down on the plump flesh. My hands land on her hips, and I pull her closer. The folder with all the pages inside falls to the ground as she wraps her arms around me.

  “I wanted to see your reaction.” The heat of my breath on her ear causes her to tremble. She presses her body against mine tightly, but I push her away again. “I want you to leave. No questions, no arguments. Go back to the store. Get it ready to open.”

  “Rome, please,” she pleads. “It’s not true. I’m not married. I never—”

  “Listen to me. I want you to do as I say. Walk out of this office, and don’t turn back. Don’t contact me.” Her brows furrow. I can read the agony on her face. It’s so clear, so evident that my words are slicing through her like a blade.

  Her mouth opens, but I press my finger on her lips. “No.” My voice is cold, chilling me, and I’m sure her too in the process.

  And I know nothing I do now will change my feelings.

  Space.

  It’s the only thing I need.

  I watch as she walks out of my office, and I know what I have to do.

  Chapter 26

  Elisabet

  My heart is attacking my ribs at a violent rhythm. I wanted to know where and how Rome got that information. But more so, I need to know why Marco never told me about it. Since Rome isn’t listening to me, perhaps I should get Marco to call him, to tell him it’s not true.

  I never once married anyone. I never signed anything. Surely, I would know if I did or not. My hands are trembling when I grab my cell phone and dial Marco’s number. The lump in my throat threatens to choke me.

  “Tesoro,” the deep timber comes through the line, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “What can I do for you?”

  “Why is there an official marriage certificate with my name and yours on it? I never married you, I never said my vows, and I certainly would remember if I did.”

  After a short bout of silence, I’m met with his familiar chuckle. “You’re quite the sassy one talking to me like that,” he informs me coolly. That’s one thing about this man. He doesn’t get ruffled. He’s always been so relaxed, even when in my father’s company, and my dad could have a priest cursing.

  “I need to know, Marco, please?” My plea doesn’t fall on deaf ears. He’s toying with me, and I don’t like it. Sadly, there’s not much I can do because he holds my life in his hands.

  “Well,” he says, sighing before he continues, “I’m a man of means, Elisabet, you know this.” He falls silent, but I wait. There has to be more to it than that. “I did it to keep your father off my back. We both agreed not to marry, and to be honest, showing him I have more power than he does made me feel good.”

  “That makes no sense. He wouldn’t force you to do anything,” I tell him, and it’s true because even though my father is a rigid man when it comes to rules, he’s been known to be lenient when need be.

  “Of course he wouldn’t, because if he did, I would kill him.” The nonchalant way Marco says that makes every hair on the back of my neck stand on end. “You have a beautiful apartment,” he tells me then.

  “What?”

  “Did your new man give you this?” A question that sets my feet in motion. I’m in my car within seconds. The engine purrs to life, and I’m on my way to the building before I have time to think. Being alone with Marco may not be a good idea, but I need to see him, to ask him to leave me alone. Maybe I can bargain with him.

  “No. I bought it.”

  “With my money,” he finishes my sentence quickly, causing me to wince. I don’t reply because he knows I did. There’s no point in denying it. I should never have trusted him in the first place. But like they say, better the devil you know.

  “Please, don’t do this,” I plead, hoping he’ll stay on the line until I can get home. If I can just talk to him, keep him calm, I can sort this out. “Why can’t you just annul the marriage? It’s fake anyway.”

  “Is this because you have your new man?” He laughs out loud. The sound isn’t filled with any humor, and I can’t help but cringe. Marco is dangerous when he’s angry, and when he’s jealous, it’s even worse.

  “Yes.” I can’t lie to him because that will only add fuel to the fire. There’s no need to deny my relationship with Rome because even though Rome sent me out of his office, he didn’t tell me it’s over. I still have time to make this right. I know it.

  “And you love this man?” Marco's question comes out of the blue and hits me right in the chest. I can’t say I love Rome, not yet. It’s too soon. But I definitely care for him, and who knows? Maybe down the line, we will fall in love.

  “I don’t know,” I finally answer. “I mean, it’s early. I can’t tell him I love him after such a short time.”

  “Mm,” he murmurs. “Interesting.” I hear the creak of leather, and I breathe a sigh of relief. He’s probably sitting on the couch, which means I’ll get to my apartment, and he’ll still be there. I’m not far away when I hear him again. “I would like to meet him.”

  “No.”

  A boisterous chuckle comes through the line. “No? Did you just refuse me, Elisabet?” I can hear the shock lacing his words. In the next moment, I’m pulling into the parking lot and exiting the vehicle seconds later. By the time I reach the elevator, I know he can hear the sounds over the phone, but he doesn’t say a word.

  “I just don’t want you to cause any more drama than this certificate has already done.” My hands are shaking once more, and my stomach is in knots. The twisting of anxiety and fear have overridden all rational thought when the doors slide open, and I’m met with the man who I’m apparently married to.

  “Welcome home,” he says with a smile.

  I step inside, pushing by him in a huff. Frustration has a hold of me, and I’m tired of Marco running my life. Yes, he gave me the money to be here, but it was a loan. He lends money all the time. All I am is a client, and I doubt he shows up in client’s homes like this. “Why are you here?”

  “I wanted to see how my investment is going.”

  “I’m not an investment,” I bite out as I set my purse down and turn to regard him. There’s a coy smile on his face, and I can’t stop the eye roll I give him. “Just tell me why there’s a marriage certificate with our names on it, Marco?”

  He shrugs, moving toward the living room. He stops at the windows, his gaze locked on the city below us. I don’t go to him because he wants me to. He does that, taunting people until they crack. But I’m done breaking for men who attempt to rule my life.

  “Marco,” I say his name, keeping my tone serious, but the anger is slowly seeping through my veins. I want to go to him, slap him for what he did, and then tell him to fuck off, but I can’t. Not yet.

  “I had it done a while ago,” he tells me but keeps his back to me. “Your father was becoming more aggressive in his wants and needs. He was starting to annoy me, and I wanted to prove a point to him.”

  “So, this is all because you and my father can’t get along?” I ask, crossing my arms in front of my chest, tipping my head to the side in frustrated indignation.

  A chuckle rumbles in his chest. He finally turns to me as he slips his hands into his pockets. His dark eyes bore into me. Marco is handsome for an older man. In his late forties, with a thick head of salt-and-pepper hair, and a smile that could melt the panties off a nun, he isn’t the worst choice if I were forced into a marriage.

 
“You’re still as feisty as the first day I met you,” he tells me with a grin. “I needed him off my back. He relented, and I didn’t ever ask them to remove it from the record.”

  “Well, can you ask them to do it now?” I lower my arms and walk toward the living room. Marco regards me for a long moment before he turns away again. I can’t see his expression, but I can’t feel any anger emanating from him either.

  “I can do that for you, but you need to tell me something first,” he says.

  “What?”

  He shakes his head and sighs before he asks, “Is this man someone worthy?” At the mention of Rome, memories assault me about how we ended our fight earlier. He didn’t tell me it’s over, so I’m guessing it’s just a fight. A bad one.

  “He is,” I finally answer.

  Marco tips his head, looking at the floor before he twists around to look me in the eyes. “Then I’ll do it for you. But I have to warn you, Elisabetta,” he says, using my full name. “If I ever hear this man hurts you in any way . . .” His words taper off, and I know he’s talking about hurting Rome.

  “He won’t,” I assure Marco. “I think if anyone was doing the hurting, it would be me to him.”

  He chuckles. “I don’t doubt that, Tesoro.” I watch him pull out his cell phone and tap the screen. A moment later, the phone rings, and he answers. “Yes.” He listens for a long moment before he glances at me and nods. “Okay, remove the certificate. I want no trace of it,” he speaks again, then listens. “Good. Ciao.” And that’s the end of it.

  “Thank you.” I can’t help but smile. Marco may be dangerous to everyone else, but my fear has eased now that I’ve finally stood up to him.

  Marco makes his way toward me and then smiles. “Be careful,” he tells me. “And Elisabetta,” he says as he stops in front of me. “Take care of yourself, and don’t be a stranger.”

  I hear the door click, and then I’m alone. Now I need to try to figure out how to get Rome to listen to me.

  One man down.

  Just one more to go.

  Chapter 27

  Elisabet

  He doesn’t move. Neither do I because all I can focus on is Rome standing in the doorway to my bakery. To the store that I worked so hard on in the past week. He hasn’t spoken to me, and I haven’t ventured anywhere near his office or the apartment. I didn’t want to see the anger in his eyes and allow him to see the hurt in mine.

  Silence stretches lazily between us, like a cat on a hot summer’s afternoon. I want to go to him. Everything inside me urges me to take the first step, but I wasn’t the one who pushed him away, so my pride forces me to stay put.

  We’re in a standoff. As much as I think he wants to come toward me, I know his stubbornness is holding him back. The song changes on the radio, and soon, we’re staring at each other while "One-Night Stand" plays in the background. I really should change up the playlist, I think to myself.

  “Appropriate song choice,” Rome finally speaks, and my heart catapults at the sound of his deep voice. I realize, hearing his words, just how much I missed him calling to me.

  I can’t stop the smile that curls on my lips. That’s something Rome could do no matter how angry I am at him—make me smile. He takes the first step over the threshold, and his large, looming figure seems far too big to fit in the small coffee shop.

  Thankfully, it’s quiet, and no customers have to see what this man does to me because I can’t think straight with him in my personal space. He stops inches from me. His hand comes up, and he grips my chin in his thumb and forefinger, tilting my head so I can meet his gaze.

  “I’ve thought of you every night this week.” His words are soft, gentle, a caress along my exposed skin. “And each morning, I woke up and realized that I’m an asshole.”

  “That’s an understatement.”

  He chuckles at my sass. “I’m trying to apologize, Elisabet.” I nod for him to carry on because frankly, I’m enjoying him groveling. “I want you in my bed, in my home, and by my side.” Honesty burns in his eyes, his expression serious. “Tell me you’ll give me another chance to prove myself to you.”

  “What if I said I’ll have to think about it?” I cross my arms in front of my chest, which causes me to brush against the crisp linen of his shirt.

  He tips his head to the side as he regards me. “Then I’ll wait. Just outside the door every morning and every evening.”

  “And what’s that going to accomplish?” I challenge. Even though my heart is thudding against my ribcage, wanting to leap into his hands, I need to know that this isn’t just Rome being his charming self. I need to know he realizes his mistake.

  “It’s going to make you see me, Elisabet. The man who fell in love with you,” he tells me quickly. “I am stupid at times, and this was me putting my pride before you, and that was my mistake. I should’ve allowed you to talk to me. And I should’ve gone to him with you. To sort it out.”

  I consider his response, my thoughts going back to Marco and him giving me the legal documentation showing that I was, in fact, not married to him. His legal influence was enough to ensure that if anyone were to search for me, they’d think I was his. Even my father. And when I asked him to give me my freedom so I could move on, he thankfully relented.

  “You should’ve.” My voice comes out breathy, and I mentally chastise myself for allowing him to get to me. I want to be strong with him, to show him that I’m not bothered by him being here, but I can’t lie to myself or to him. I need this man like I need my next breath.

  “I’d like to make it up to you,” Rome says as the corner of his mouth tilts wolfishly.

  Rolling my eyes, I say, “Sex isn’t just going to make everything better, Rome.”

  “I meant dinner at Seduction,” he says on a chuckle. “And since you brought it up, yes, that’s on the menu as well.”

  “I don’t think Mia would appreciate you whipping it out in her restaurant,” I bite out, causing Rome to laugh out loud. The sound vibrates through his chest, and I can’t stop myself from grinning.

  “Those patrons should be so lucky to see what I’m packing, sweetheart,” Rome challenges with a naughty glint in his eyes. His cocky nature is back, and the air between us feels less stressed than it was moments ago. But he can’t just saunter in here and expect me to forgive him.

  “Fine. Dinner. That’s all.”

  “I remember you saying that a while ago, and it didn’t really hold up. Did it, Elisabet?” he asks, the words a whisper along my mouth as Rome leans in to feather his lips along mine.

  My thighs clench and my body reacts to his nearness. The spicy scent of his cologne engulfs me. The bell above the door jingles loudly as I notice Mia walking in with a massive grin on her face.

  “Finally,” she sighs. “Are you finally coming to your senses, Rome?”

  I can’t stop laughing at the incredulous expression on his handsome face at Mia’s question. “I blame your friend over here for my senses not sparking as they should.” He takes her hand and presses a kiss to her knuckles. “It’s nice to see you again, Mia. How is Camden?”

  “He’s fine. Told me you’re heading this way to apologize to Elisabet. Which brings me to the dinner booking you made for tomorrow night.”

  “It’s a special request.” The shift in his eyes makes me wary when I notice Mia looking at me, then glancing at him.

  “What are you two hiding from me?” I ask, looking to Mia and then Rome, who steps back, holding his hands up in surrender. “Don’t act innocent.”

  “It’s just dinner,” Mia says, reaching out to touch my arm. “I promise.” With a wink, she smiles.

  Narrowing my eyes, I shake my head. “Oh, I’m sure it is.” My teasing tone has her giggling, and I know something is up. They’re hiding Rome’s plans, but I allow it because if I had to be honest with myself, I’m enjoying seeing a man groveling on his knees.

  “I have to get back to the office,” Rome tells me. He leans in, kissing me on the chee
k before he turns to Mia to say goodbye. He reaches the door, but before he walks out, he smiles at me from over his shoulder. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow at six,” he tells me, and then he’s gone.

  “He’s really making an effort,” Mia says before turning to regard me. “What?”

  I’m still looking at her with wariness. “I know you two are up to something,” I tell her. “But I want to thank you for checking in on me.”

  “How did everything go?” she asks, settling on one of the high stools that I have at the counter for customers. “Is Marco gone?”

  “Yeah, he left a couple of days ago. Thankfully, he’s been good about it. I think knowing me all my life has given him a soft spot for me.”

  “Are you sure this is over? Marco seems like a man who is intent on doing whatever he wants to get his way.”

  Nodding, I sigh when I recall his admission. “Yes, he’s actually never wanted to marry me. When my father offered me as consolation for business dealings gone bad, it was Marco who refused. He’s actually been good to me. So, in actual effect, I’m lucky to have him on my side.”

  “And you told him about Rome?”

  I can’t help smiling at the mention of his name. I never thought I would be here, in Portland, laying down roots. And I definitely never considered being in love, but Rome has done something to me.

  “I did. It was like talking to an older uncle about boys, though. Strange. But enlightening, because he said if Rome ever hurts me in any way, he’d send some guys over to sort him out.”

  This admission has us both giggling like we used to do in college. The lightness I feel in my chest is new to me. It’s good having a friend to talk to, especially when I need advice on guys.

  “I have to ask you something.” I lower my voice even though the shop is empty. “What am I meant to wear tomorrow night?”